Hi eveyone,
I wasn't sure which forum to ask this question, so I thought I would start with the general veggie one.
My wife and I have recently purchased 8 acres of pasture land up north, and eventually will build a retirement home there (15+ years away probably). I will over the next few years begin to landscape the property (different tree varieties for privacy, firewood, and fruit & nut bearing).
For this year, I would like to start a couple of raised beds of veggies up there since my backyard may be under renovation this year and my space would be very limited.
I guess my question would be... is there any veggies that may be left unattended for weeks at a time? I suppose it's next to impossible to grow this way, and I really don't expect much, but it would just be kinda nice to have a little something at harvest time to bring home.
I won't be dissapointed if nothing survives, but I'd like to try. Would garlic or onions be a good choice? peppers? pumpkins/squash? or am I just really dreaming?
Any suggestions would be great.
Thanks in advance.
Is there a veggie that grows well in the wild?
There are a few., many folks consider them weeds, that compete successfully with little or no intervention, Jerusalem Artichokes, Lambs quarters, Poke Weed, Egyptian onions, some of the amaranths, dandelions, purslane, upland cress,. Most of the favored vegetables cannot compete with natives. Under certain conditions some of the cherry type tomatoes with do ok as will ground cherries (husk tomatoes).
I have two clumps of asparagus that came there themselves and in those spots do well. Also rubarb is very hardy. These two plants require less care than most others.
When my cousins and I were children, we use to go across the road from their house to a public wooded park that was not used very often and walk all over picking asparagus. It was a challenge to see who could find the biggest, and the most. Noone took care of them and they grew back every year under trees, beside bushes, in the grass ect.
I find wild onions on some family property we use that is way in the woods and definitely not tended to.
Blueberries, blackberries, the wild ones here seem to need no care and spread rapidly. Also check out http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/689323/.
This message was edited Feb 25, 2007 9:16 AM
Thanks everyone..
Farmerdill, I've seen egyptian onions before and they do look interesting... but I don't know how easy they would be to find. the only place I know that carries them is Richters Herbs up here and they will go for $10 for 10 bulbs. Maybe I'll try a set out and see. BTW, I've learned TONS of stuff by just reading a lot of your posts over the years.
Indy and DigMontana, my wife loves asparagus, and she would be thrilled if I could supply her with it from our own garden. Again, the roots are a little pricey, but if I start from seeds, I could have a nice little crop in a few years.
I guess another concern is although there is farmland all around me, I am just across the road from a protected forest... so I don't know what kind of critters there are. I wonder if deer like asparagus?
Maybe I'd be better off with a herb garden. (just a thought) :)
Oh, Dyson... guess you posted while I was writing. I will be planting berry bushes down the line as I start the landscaping and figure out where I want to place things. I'm worried if I do it earlier, the critters will just have a field day with them. But then again, it may be worth a shot (like I said, if I get nothing I won't be dissapointed since I expect nothing).
As far as the link (horseradish), I tried it in my youth and just couldn't get used to the flavour... not for me. (yucky) :)
thanks though.
This message was edited Feb 25, 2007 10:39 AM
Sandhill sells the Egyptian Onions.
I think you hit on the most important thing. Critters. What plans do you have for keeping deer, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, and anything else out of them? Also, you didn't say where "North" is. How far North? Birds, like crows love digging up seeds and eating them. All animals love berries. Or fruit off the trees.
The idea is wonderful. Good luck, Jeanette
Thanks lafko06... I have a place not too far from me (Richters Herbs) that also sells them.
Jnette... I have a bad habit of saying "up north", but in reality it's just south of Georgian Bay. I really don't know what type of animals are around. I know there are gophers (I walked the property in the fall when I bought it, and there were a couple of "homes" there.
As I said, I don't really expect anything, but it would be cool to just see what grows... maybe it's best to stick to the herbs. Either way, it would only take me a day to set up, and if I decide to camp up there a few times this year... I'll have an idea if it's worth doing a bit more next year.
Maybe I'll make a journal out of it and see.
There is also a lightweight but effective electric fencing that can be moved & reused : people here use it for "free range" poultry, cattle and other livestock.
I guess it might seem excessive for a crop, and it's not much good against birds, of course.
Here's what it looks like. I know nothing about this vendor; they just had good pics of the sort of fence I see used around here:
http://www.kencove.com/enet.htm
This message was edited Mar 1, 2007 7:54 AM